Self-starting chock for vehicles.



No. 719,353. PATBNTBD JAN. 27, 1903.

A. H. MINNEY. SELF STARTING GHOGK FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED YEB. 14, 1902.

N0 MODEL.

lgaqgior.

.40 the tube 1 is a flanged head 6.

Nrrn TATES ALBERT H. MINNEY, OF RUSSET, WEST VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OFONE-HALF TO DWIGHT W. SHOCK, OF STATEN, WEST VIRGINIA.

SELF-STARTING CHOCK FOR VEHICLES.

elfEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 719,353, dated January27, 1903. Application filed February 14, 1992. Serial No. 94,093. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT I-I. MINNEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Russet, in the county of Calhoun and State of 5 WestVirginia, have invented a new and useful Self-Starting Chock forVehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved self-starting chock for vehicles, especiallyadapted for use when a vehicle is stopped during the ascent of anincline to rest the team and assist in starting the vehicle when theteam is again started; and it consists in the peculiar construction andcombination of devices hereinafter fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wagonprovided with my improved self-starting chock. Fig. 2 is a detailperspective view of my improved selfstarting chock. Fig. 3 is alongitudinal sectional View of the same. Fig. 4. is a detail transversesectional view. Fig. 5 is a detail view showing a modification.

In the embodiment of my invention I provide a tube 1, which is providedat one end with devices to engage the earth or surface of a road, thesaid devices being here shown as prongs 2. The said tube is provided inone side with a longitudinal slot 3, which communicates with the bore ofthe tube. In the latter is an axially-movable bar 4, the said bar beingof such length that one end thereof projects beyond the upper or innerend of the tube 1. A key 5 is here shown as operating 5 in the slot 3and fitted in a transverse opening in the rod 4, and thereby the latteris connected to the tube 1 and is adapted to slide longitudinallytherein a distance nearly equal to the length of the slot 3. At theinner end of The inner end of the bar 4 is provided with a head 7. Thesaid bar 1 is passed through and engages the eye 8 of a bolt 9. The saidbolt is journaled in a bearing-plate 10, which bearingplate is adaptedto be bolted to the under side of the wagon-reach,as here shown, or maybe otherwise attached to any other appropriate part of the running-gearor body of the vehicle. It will be understood that the bolt 9 forms apivot for the chock, which comprises the tube 1 and bar 4, and thathence the rear end of the chock may be raised or lowered.

A spring 11, which is here shown as a coiled extensile spring, is placedon that portion of the bar 4 which projects from the inner end of thetube 1. The ends of the said spring bear, respectively, against the eye8 of the pivotal bolt 9 and the head at the inner end of the tube 1, sothat the latter is normally 6o moved outwardly or rearwardly on thebar 1. The strength of the spring 11 must be such that the same isadapted to sustain the vehicle when the chock is in operation.

An operating cord or chain 12 is attached to the tube 1, near the rearend thereof, passed through guides on the vehicle, which guides are hereshown as rings 13, and extends to within convenient reach of the driveron the vehicle-seat. It will be understood that by means of this cordthe chock may be raised or lowered. When the vehicle is in motion, thechock is raised and secured in an elevated position in any suitablemanner, as by fastening the cord 12. In ascending an inclined road,whenitbecomes necessary to stop thereon in order to breathe or rest thehorse or team the chock is lowered and caused to bear on the surface ofthe road and serves when the horse or team stops to chock the vehicleagainst backing, the pressure of the vehicle axially with relation tothe chock causing the spring 11 to yield and the bar 4 to moverearwardly in the tube 1. Owing to the power of the spring the same whenthe horse or team is started materially assists in starting the vehiclein motion, hence to a great extent relieving the horse or team of thestress of the draft.

My improved self-starting chock is adapted for use on all classes ofvehicles, and I do not limit myself in this particular.

In Fig. 5 of the drawings I show a modification in which I employ aneyebolt 14 to connect the bar at to the reach of the vehicle. The eye ofthe bolt is engaged by an eye 4, with which the bar is provided. Awearplate 15 is shown secured on the lower side of the reach andprovided with an opening through which and through the opening in thereach the eyebolt extends. Any other suitable means maybe employed topivotally connect the bar to the reach or other suitable portion of thevehicle, and I do not desire to limit myself in this particular.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A self-startiu; chockcoi'nprisinga lower tubular member having an earth-engaging device atits lower end and provided with a longitudinal slot, a rod slidable inthe tubular member and provided with an aperture, a tapered key wedgedin the aperture of the slidable rod and operating in the slot of thetubular member, an exterior coiled spring disposed on the rod andengaging the upper end of the tubular member, and means for hinging therod to avehicle, said means forming a stop for the upper end of thecoiled spring, substantially as described.

2. A self-starting chock for vehicles comprising a bearing designed tobe secured to the reach of a vehicle, a pivot disposed horizontally andarranged in the bearin g and provided with an eye, a lower tubularearth-engaging member, a rod slidable in the earthengaging member and inthe eye of the pivot and provided with a head for engaging the same, anexterior coiled spring disposed on the rod and engaging the tubularmember and the eye, and means for raising and lowering the chock,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT H. MINNEY.

